Appeals court rejects Trump bid to curb mail-in voting in 23 states

Key Points:

• A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's request to implement an executive order tightening mail-in voting rules in 23 states before the November elections, upholding a lower court injunction that deemed key parts unconstitutional.
• The Department of Justice argued the lawsuit was premature since policies to implement the order were not finalized, but the court disagreed, emphasizing the urgency for states to respond to the order's deadlines.
• The March executive order directed the Department of Homeland Security to create voter eligibility lists and required the USPS to deliver ballots only to voters on approved mail-in ballot lists, while also prioritizing prosecution of election officials issuing ballots to ineligible voters.
• Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the president lacked authority to direct DHS to compile voter lists or authorize USPS to regulate mail-in voting, and that the order's threat of prosecution intimidated local election officials.
• The Trump administration may seek Supreme Court intervention after similar challenges, while Trump continues efforts to pass voting restrictions through Congress despite judicial setbacks.